Despite sore wrist, Carl Crawford turns back the clock

Scott Lauber Sunday, August 12, 2012

CLEVELAND -- Not even an unexpected recurrence of soreness in his surgically repaired left wrist could dampen Carl Crawford's day.

Crawford (AP photo, left) scored two runs and drove in three to fuel the Red Sox' 16-hit barrage in a 14-1 spanking of the Indians today and help salvage a split of a four-game series. He tied a career high with three doubles, a feat he achieved previously as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays against none other than the Red Sox in 2010, one year before signing his infamous seven-year, $142 million contract.

"Those," Crawford said with a smile, "were the good, old days."

Now, about that wrist ...

As a precaution, Crawford left the game in the fifth inning with the Red Sox holding a 13-run lead. Bobby Valentine classified the wrist issue as "very minor," and Crawford seemed annoyed that the manager even made it public at all.

"Maybe it's a concern to him because he brought it up to (the media)," Crawford said. "You know, it is what it is. I've been playing with pain the whole time I've been back. It was one of those times where it was a little more sore than other days today."

Until today, though, the discomfort had been limited to Crawford's balky left elbow. His wrist had been largely pain-free since he received a cortisone injection five months ago.

"It's probably just time for another one," Crawford said. "Just over time, using it, sliding, using your top hand to hit the ball hard, I'm pretty sure it gets a little sore after a while. But whenever you're swinging the bat well, you always feel good."

Indeed, Crawford finally seems to be finding his stroke at the plate. He has hit safely in 12 of his last 16 games, during which time he's batting .311 (19-for-61) with eight doubles, two triples, three homers and 15 RBI. Facing overmatched Indians rookie Corey Kluber, he lined a one-out double in the first inning and scored on Dustin Pedroia's double, then notched a two-out, two-run double in the second inning and doubled home a run in the fifth.

"Carl is Carl," Adrian Gonzalez said. "He's looking awesome. He's looking like the player we all know he is. It's great."